The people who learn English usually make mistakes. Some of them are more common than the others. For example in the sentences:
1.. *She has been in Kraków on the 25th of May
2.. *I am working on this project since yesterday
The correct versions are:
1.. She was in Kraków on the 25th of May
2.. I have been working on this project since yesterday
Other types of common mistakes:
Mistake: Arthur is very good in swimming
The correct way: Arthur is very good at swimming
Why? When we describe the abilities of people we use the preposition "at" not "in"
Mistake: The species of bear known as polar bear is typical for northern regions
The correct way: The species of bear known as polar bear is typical of northern regions
Why? The adjective "typical" is always accompanied by the preposition "of"
Mistake: I will never forget what you have done to me!
The correct way: I will never forget what you have done for me!
Why? This is not a grammatical mistake, but a mistake which changes the meaning of the sentence. "To do something to somebody" means to do something bad to that person. When a positive thing was done we use "for": "to do something for somebody."
Mistake: Suddenly our best ally turned up to be a traitor of our case!
The correct way: Suddenly our best ally turned out to be a traitor of our case!
Why? "To turn up" is grammatically correct but its meaning is different from the one intended. It means: "to appear unexpectedly." In order to say that something becomes something else we must use the phrasal verb "to turn out."
Mistake: Above 3,000 people were waiting for their arrival at the airport
The correct way: Over (More than) 3,000 people were waiting for their arrival at the airport
Why? We always use "over" or "more than" when we talk about number. An exception to this rule: when we talk about points on a scale: "Yesterday, the temperature was 20° above zero" or "Maintain the temperature of the water above 26°"
Mistake: Yesterday at the University we discussed about the origins of the Western Civilisation.
The correct way: Yesterday at the University we discussed (…) the origins of the Western Civilisation.
Why? There should be no preposition after the verb "discuss" but the object
Mistake: I am shocked that my best friend is married with my former girlfriend.
The correct way: I am shocked that my best friend is married to my former girlfriend.
Why? We use the preposition "to" with the word "married" (but see below)
Mistake: I would like to marry to her; she is so beautiful.
The correct way: I would like to marry (…) her; she is so beautiful.
Why? There should be no preposition after the verb "to marry" but the object
Mistake: My grandfather built the house for his wife during 1 year
The correct way: My grandfather built the house for his wife in 1 year
Why? We use the preposition "during" when we say when something has happened (for example: "we met during the holidays"). If we want to say how long it took to do something we use "in."
Mistake: Yesterday, at the ceremony, she was dressed on black.
The correct way: Yesterday, at the ceremony, she was dressed in black.
Why? When we talk about the colour of somebody's clothes we use the preposition "in"
Mistake: We don't like strangers here, and in the next town they don't like them too.
The correct way: We don't like strangers here, and in the next town they don't like them either.
Why? We use the adverb "either" in negative sentences. "Too" is used in sentences with positive meaning ("I like him, and she likes him too")
